by Insurance Maze » Mon Nov 05, 2007 01:31 pm
Water leakage is a problem and one that is not covered under homeowners insurance. So, the best thing one can do is to be cautious and keep a regular check. Homeowners insurance would typically refuse any claim related to water leakage over a period of time. It would be categorized under negligence. However, under certain special circumstances, your insurer may provide coverage against damage from a water leak.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
Yes, it does but very specific types. Homeowners insurance would not cover damages from flood. Flood insurance is a separate policy that you need to purchase. It would also not cover damage caused by a leaking pipe in your home, but would cover damage from rain getting inside the house through a hole in the roof or a broken window if the hole or the broken window was a result of a storm or extreme weather conditions. If the water damage was due to your negligence, home insurance would not cover it. If you do not know what kind of water damage is covered by your insurance company, go through your policy papers for details.
If there are damages from a storm in your house make sure you dry all the wet areas after the storm has passed away. Provide air circulation to the wet areas cover them with tar if possible to prevent further damage. This will help minimize the possibility of mould growing in your home.
If there are damages from a storm in your house make sure you dry all the wet areas after the storm has passed away. Provide air circulation to the wet areas cover them with tar if possible to prevent further damage. This will help minimize the possibility of mould growing in your home.
What duty do you have as a homeowner?
It is your duty to keep a check on all fixtures in your home. See to it that they are all maintained well. If there has been any water damage make sure you remedy it as soon as possible. Even a small leakage can lead to mould that would further damage your property. It also causes health hazards like asthma, sinusitis and bronchitis.
Mould damage may be covered but only if it was caused by a leak that grew due to a storm. If your house has built up mould, make sure you get it cleaned professionally. Amateurs may cause it to spread the spores more.
Insurance companies investigate before they can give the policyholders their money for the loss. Adjusters inspect the areas where the damage occurred and they do find out if the leakage had been for over a period of time or if it had been a sudden outburst. So, it is no use lying to the insurance company. Being honest is the only option open to you.
Mould damage may be covered but only if it was caused by a leak that grew due to a storm. If your house has built up mould, make sure you get it cleaned professionally. Amateurs may cause it to spread the spores more.
Insurance companies investigate before they can give the policyholders their money for the loss. Adjusters inspect the areas where the damage occurred and they do find out if the leakage had been for over a period of time or if it had been a sudden outburst. So, it is no use lying to the insurance company. Being honest is the only option open to you.
I have a rather unusual situation with a client and a well-known preferred home insurance carrier. What do you think?
One day the insured came home and for whatever reason he leaned against the bathroom wall and it suddenly collapsed.
The sheetrock was soaked and so was the insulation inside the wall and mold and mildew was everywhere. There was a small pin-hole leak in a water pipe that obviously had been leaking for quite some time.
The insured called the insurance company to report the incident, a claim was filed and an adjustor came to look at the damage.
The claim was denied by the insurance company because the standard HO-3 homeowners' policy specifically "Excludes" a loss as the result of a water leak over an extended period of time.
If this had been a sudden erruption of a water line, a leaking dishwasher, or a leaking fill line to the ice-maker, it would have been covered. Because this leak had been "over an extended period of time" it was not covered.
So, are we to lean against all of our walls everyday just to see if we might have a water leak?
One day the insured came home and for whatever reason he leaned against the bathroom wall and it suddenly collapsed.
The sheetrock was soaked and so was the insulation inside the wall and mold and mildew was everywhere. There was a small pin-hole leak in a water pipe that obviously had been leaking for quite some time.
The insured called the insurance company to report the incident, a claim was filed and an adjustor came to look at the damage.
The claim was denied by the insurance company because the standard HO-3 homeowners' policy specifically "Excludes" a loss as the result of a water leak over an extended period of time.
If this had been a sudden erruption of a water line, a leaking dishwasher, or a leaking fill line to the ice-maker, it would have been covered. Because this leak had been "over an extended period of time" it was not covered.
So, are we to lean against all of our walls everyday just to see if we might have a water leak?
Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:39 pm Post Subject: Re: water coming in through siding
We actually called today and made a claim and the adjuster is coming out early next week. I called a siding company I know of and talked to someone there, describing the issue. He thinks it's related to damaged flashing or roof, but could be a siding issue. Either way, he believes it's from damage from heavy winds or rain. I guess we will see!
Since I'm new to all of this, how could it be a maintenance issue if water is leaking in under siding or flashing, etc? There really isn't anything we could do to maintain it ourselves (although we just inherited this house 4 months ago and started having issues in the past month or so).
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:17 am Post Subject:
What would happen to your car after 20 years of abuse without any maintenance? Suppose you bought that 20 year old car four months ago? Flashings corrode and siding is not necessarily water-tight. Think about how the siding is applied. Do you see any exposed screws or nails? Is it glued on? Too many possibilities to list. Fasteners corrode, glues eventually may fail.
No one said the lack of maintenance is your fault, but it is now your problem. If the adjuster attributes the damage to rain, it won't be covered because rain is not a covered peril. If the damage is attributed to wind, it might be, since wind is a covered peril.
Water damage subsequent to wind damage is called a "contingent loss". If the courts had ruled that the flooding in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina was the result of the force of wind on the levees and not the accumulated rainwater, insurance companies would have lost billions in claims.
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 03:28 pm Post Subject: water damage
sprinkler caused water to penetrate the brick/drywall and into the formal dining and living room carpet and pad. Covered loss?
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 11:20 pm Post Subject: Hurricane Irene
I have damage to my bed clothes and shoes that were on the floor when hurricane Irene hit DC. there are leaks in ceiling and cracks that allowed storm rain to get in everything is soaked with water and my insurance company is not helping. they said they talked to PM and he said water came from storm that seeped through loose window seals.
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 07:43 am Post Subject:
Your insurer would cover your damages if your roof and ceiling got damaged due to the hurricane. It would not pay for any damages caused by the water, if it came in as a result of normal wear and tear of your house.
You may request the adjuster to check for damages to the roof or ceiling, if you think the hurricane may have caused it.
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:28 pm Post Subject: water damage
The power was off in my house for days when it came back on the up stairs faucet was on and the sink over flowed into the down stairs kitchen ruining the ceiling and carpet will this be covered?
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 01:50 am Post Subject: water damage
Would my homeowners insurance cover water damage to my carpeting due to a plugged sewer pipe that caused my washing machine to back up & flood my familyroom? :cry:
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 10:26 am Post Subject:
Only your insurer can tell you this.
Is it mentioned in your policy that sewer/drain backup is covered in the insurance?
If so, contact the company and file a claim. If it’s not mentioned then I doubt they would cover it.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:19 am Post Subject:
mc 123….. I don’t think the damage will be covered, because it happened due to negligence. You may still check on with your insurance once.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 02:56 pm Post Subject:
Would my homeowners insurance cover water damage to my carpeting due to a plugged sewer pipe that caused my washing machine to back up & flood my familyroom?
Unlikely. Sewer backup is usually an exclusion.
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